Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-27

night of last week he was visited by a party
said to number from s~eventy-five to one hun
dred men, and after being lectured on the con-
sequence of his evil ways, a chastisement
was administered in the shape of twenty-five
lashes, over his shirt. He was also given the
alternative of leaving the county within ten
days, which he promised to do. He admitted
that he preached Mormonism and baptized
converts in that faith, but denied the charge of
living in adultery with his step-daughter.
THE TIRZAH MEETING. .
Owing to the rains of Sunday and the threat
ening appearance of the weather the next
morning, the attendance at the farmers reun-
ion and picnic at Massey's Store last Monday
was not so large as otherwise it would have been.
Under the adverse circumstances, however,
there was a larger attendance than could have
been expected.
At II o'clock Iredell Jones, County Chair
man of the Farmers Association of York,
called the meeting to order in DR.. Hopes
grove, where a neat stand had been erected and
seats for the audience provided. After prayer
by Rev. J. Spratt White, the Chairman regret
ted to announce that several distinguished
speakers who had been invited and confidently
expected were unavoidably prevented from
attending. Among these were the Governor
and the Secretary Of State, who were detained
by official duties, and Farmer B. r. Tillman,
who was prevented from attending in conse-
quence of having been gored by a Jersey bull
which he attempted to halter on Friday last
the wounds he received in that encounter being
so severe as to contine him to his bed. The
Chairman was pleased to announce, however,
that our distinguished Congressman, Hon. j.
J. Hemphill, who never failed the people of
York when called upon, was present and he
was pleased to introduce him.
Mr.. Hemphill humorously excused himself
from attempting to make an agricultural adj
dress, having attended the meeting mainly
for the purpose of hearing the great exponent,
Capt. Tillman; but from what the Chairman
had just said he feared Capt. Tillman is not
so successful a farmer after all. The speak
er made no pretension to being a farmer, but
he claimed to know enough about the business
to prevent him from attempting to halter a
Jersey bull or to even try to bride a mule
unless he knew that they had been dead
for at least two years, and then in the case OF
the mule he should certainly approach the ami
NAL boldly in front.
He then congratulated the Association on the
presence of the large number of ladies', who,
needless of the threatening condition of the
weather, had turned out to grace the meeting
by their attendance, and paid a glowing and
eloquent tribute to the sex.
He then, without adopting the didactic style,
directed his remarks to subjects pertaining to
the farming and manufacturing interests OF
the country, sketching the vast growth OF
these industries, as also that Of railroad trans
portation, and portraying the vast importance
of each. Of the population of the United States
nearly one half are engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and in no industrial calling has
greater progress been made during the pas1
fifty years. From the ancient plow of Virgil
used in this country one hundred years ago
we now have the most improved methods and
machinery for accomplishing nearly every
operation required on the farm. AS a compar'
ison between the cotton and grain exports Of
the country, he said the former exceeds the
latter by thirty million dollars annually.
Instituting a comparison between the South
ern States previous to the war and the New
South of to-day, while it should be admitted
that the South has made great progress since
1870, nota word should be said in detraction O
those who have gone before us. Their method:
were different from ours, but their environ
ments were also different. Our ancestors meet
no defence atthis day. Theyfound our country
in virgin forest, and their labor made it tn
finest on earth, while their homely virtues ar
proper subjects for commentator.
Of the difficulties in the way of Southern
farmers, he characterized the credit system a
the greatest, and deprecated its prevalence tt
so great an extent. The success Of the farmer!
90 Tho Co,,fb IononIc 11nOn THAR ability fn con
troll labor and this they cannot successfully de
under the system which has been too much II
practice.
Mr.. Hemphill spoke for about an hour, in
terspersing his address with humor and anec
dote, and though he did not claim to know
much about agriculture, it was conceded by al
that his remarks were well calculated to slim
ulate the farmers to renewed exertions in theil
noble calling.
The next speaker introduced was w. B. Viii
son, Jr., Esq, who, like Mr.. Hemphill, said HI
was present not to teach, but to be Instructed
and while not a farmer by occupation he was
deeply interested in all pertaining to the success
of that profession. After extolling our hnt
natural agricultural resources-soi and incom'
parable climate-he pointed out what he con-
ceived to be some of the disadvantages under
which our farmers labor, and chiefamong these
he cited the credit system and the high rate Of
interest which the farmers are compelled tc
paw. He did not attribute the ~pecuniary en-
barrassment Of our people entirely to the re-
suits of the war, for in one sense the results o.
the war left the peoplein better condition thai
before. Before the war it was the custom FOL
farmers to own as large tracts of land as posi-
BILE, combining the lands to the ownership of q
few. That system is now broken up, succeed
ed by increasing the ownership of the lands
which are now more thoroughly cultivated, ano
by improved methods. He urged the impor.
taace of the farmers producing their own sup
plies, and thus becoming independent OF the
credit system and placing themselves in a posi-
ton to control their own business and the labor
of the country. He urged the repeal OF the IN
terest law, so as to limit the rate to seven PEI
cent, and closed by expressing his qualification
at the increased devotiono of the farmers to their
profession, which he regarded as one OF the
most encouraging signs of the times.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Wilson's remarks,
Mr. Frank H.. Brown closed the exercises al
the stand by thanking those present, and es'
pecially the ladies, for the interest they had
shown in the success of the meeting, and re-
q~uesting those having charge of the arrange
ments to spread the tables and let the company
repair to dinner.
Notwithstanding the unfavorable circum-
stances under which the meeting was held
the day of the week, and the threatening of the
elements-it was q decided success, everything
passing off pleasantly and tremendously.
In justice to the executive committee, it may
be said that Monday was appointed as the day
for the meeting in order to suit the convenience
of Capt. Tillman, who, when the appointment
was made, expected to be present on that day.